Quotes from Peter Abelard

Our redemption through the suffering of Christ is that deeper love within us which not only frees us from slavery to sin, but also secures for us the true liberty of the children of God, in order that we might do all things out of love rather than out of fear - love for him that has shown us such grace that no greater can be found.

The Son of God took our nature, and in it took upon himself to teach us by both word and example even to the point of death, thus binding us to himself through love.

I preferred the weapons of dialectic to all the other teachings of philosophy, and armed with these, I chose the conflicts of disputation rather than the trophies of war.

God considers not the action, but the spirit of the action.

We call an intention good which is right in itself, but the action is good, not because it contains within it some good, but because it issues from a good intention.

Nothing can be believed unless it is first understood; and that for any one to preach to others that which either he has not understood nor they have understood is absurd.

The men who abandon themselves to the passions of this miserable life, are compared in Scripture to beasts.

Are you not moved to tears and bitter compassion, when you behold the only Son of God seized by the most impious, dragged away, mocked, scourged, buffeted, spit upon, crowned with thorns, hung upon the infamous cross between two thieves, finally in such a horrible and execrable manner suffering death, for your salvation and that of the world?

It is by doubting that we come to investigate, and by investigating that we recognize the truth.

Logic has made me hated in the world.

By doubting we come to questioning, and by questioning we perceive the truth.

In comparing your sorrows with mine, you may discover that yours are in truth nought.. and so shall you come to bear them the more easily grateful that they are not worse.

By doubting we are led to enquire, and by enquiry we perceive the truth.

In doubting we come to inquiry; by inquiry we perceive the truth.

By doubting we are led to question, by questioning we arrive at the truth.

The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.

The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth.

The first key to wisdom is assiduous and frequent questioning.

The purpose and cause of the incarnation was that He might illuminate the world by His wisdom and excite it to the love of Himself.

We do many things carelessly or unwillingly, but nothing studiously unless we are willing and apply ourselves.

The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.

It is by doubting that we come to investigate, and by investigating that we recognize the truth.

O what their joy and their glory must be,Those endless sabbaths the blessed ones see!

Against the disease of writing one must take special precautions, since it is a dangerous and contagious disease.